Review: Hungry Girl

I finally got a little more quality time with the Cooking Channel so I am attempting to review several of the shows I have not seen. This time around Hungry Girl.

Lisa Lillien has lived the food blogger’s dream as well as just about anyone. She has a popular web site, 1M+ news letter subscribers, a best selling book and now the crowning achievement we all strive for, her on TV show. Here’s a blurb from said web site:

Approximately 1,000,000 fans eagerly wait for Hungry Girl’s recipes, tips & tricks each weekday. What started as a daily email to friends and family has turned into a nationwide, multimedia phenomenon! In addition to the almost one million die-hard fans subscribed to her daily emails, Lisa also reaches millions more with weekly columns on WeightWatchers.com and Yahoo!, regular contributions to Redbook magazine and recurring appearances on the television shows like Rachael Ray and Extra.

Lillien’s focus is on low fat, low calorie fare that is easy for the home cook. Think of her as the love child of Rachael Ray and Ellie Krieger with a splash of Melissa D’Arabian. Her energy is understated not unlike Micheal Chiarello but with a definite soccer mom sensibility.

The show is shot in a style that is reminiscent of Food Network in the late 90’s. The set looks like a mash-up of shows such as Sara’s Secrets, Caprial’s Kitchen and the early years of 30 Minute Meals. The cinematography is quite good and each episode packs a lot of information into it. Lillien has a bevy of tips and substitutions that help lower fat and calories while still maintaining food that is appetizing. All though this may not be the kind of show to inspire professional chefs it is a great instructional series for the home cook. It’s the kind of show that sister Food Network was built on.

Stuart is a celebrity chef, food activist and award-winning food writer. He penned the cookbooks Third Coast Cuisine: Recipes of the Gulf of Mexico, No Sides Needed: 34 Recipes To Simplify Life and Amigeauxs - Mexican/Creole Fusion Cuisine. He hosts two Internet cooking shows "Everyday Gourmet" and "Little Grill Big Flavor." His recipes have been featured in Current, Lagniappe, Southern Tailgater, The Kitchen Hotline and on the Cooking Channel.